A few weeks ago, I did some IMC check flights to make sure all that I was taught in March was still in my mind. I was given the all clear by the instructors after the check flights. We flew NDB, VOR, ILS approaches. A few hours of flying with partial instrument panel was much fun. My instructor on those flights put the aeroplane into some strange and wild configuration which I had to recover from. I organised a last minute flight to France. Having completed my GAR form which is submitted to Special Branch, and filed my flight plan within the proper time frame, I arrived at Cranfield nice and early to get the aeroplane checked, fueled, oiled and packed for my first adventure to France. The destination was Le Touquet. Most days, this airfield is visited by UK pilots. The weather was forecast to be great for flying. The North French coast had sea fog.
My route would take me through Luton controlled class D zone, I slotted behind an Airbus A320, then routed to the East of London, via Stapleford. From there, you could make out Docklands and have a view of London City Airport. Farnborough Radar talked to me until I reached the estuary of the Thames where I changed frequency to Manston Rader (I believe Manston due the size of the runway is an emergency landing location for the space shuttle). I stayed with them all the way to Dover. 15 miles from Dover I could make out the UK coastline, and on the horizon visual with the sea fog. Flying around Southend you need to stay below 2500 ft as above that you are in the London TMA. Once I was clear of that, I climbed up to 5500 ft. The mid channel point was 9 nautical miles from Dover – at this point, I was crossing the international flight region. This flight enhanced even more what flying is all about. It also made me think of the pilots during the Battle of Britain and wondered how they must felt..
Once I had Calais in sight on my left, I took a little short cut in the route – i could see that the forecast fog in the French coast still hadn’t burnt off. I started a very slow descent with about 20 miles to run. Lille Radar were not yet open, so I listened on Le Touquet frequency. No controller, just pilots making blind transmissions. As i got closer and lower, I flew around the gaps in the clouds. It was a new experience to be listening to French pilots doing their blind transmissions and trying to work out which runway was in use – but I heard the number 14 (I did study at a French University as part of my degree but my French is rubbish now). The airfeld guide did say that the primary runway to be used will be 14 during certain wind conditions. The wind was at a complete 90 degree angel from the right and thus full cross wind. There is a wind turbine very close on a hill near the airfield.
I routed over the 32 threshold as i knew that would avoid any danger of the wind turbine, then once over the airfield clocked wind sock, saw a plane at the holding point to depart on 14, and made a very tight left hand circuit to land on 14. At this point, there were 4 other UK aeroplanes coming in to land. They all seemed confused as I was at first as to which runway to use and with no air traffic controller and the other pilots speaking in French – i made very regular calls so that they could follow my routing. So, downwind and at 1000 ft, i saw a helicopter making an ILS approach. The sea fog was still there. So I climbed a little above the clouds, get a better distance to make the approach. After i said i was following the helicopter in, that pilot then responded in English to give me updates as to wind, cloud base. All this helped me as i was using the ILS to get the final 3 miles to land spot on. Exciting stuff. The other UK planes all landed by the time i parked and put the brakes on.
A short taxi trip to town. Walk on the beach. A steak and chips later, i was off. The sea fog had gone and Lille Radar were open. I decided to cross the channel at a different point. During the flight to France, the channel crossing distance was 18 miles. The flight back to England, the distance I crossed the channel was 38 miles. Having crossed the white cliffs of Dover, I took the same route back to Cranfield.
Naturally there was some nerves going across a largish patch of water for the first time. But it was terrific. I would love to do more touring. Maybe a tour of the UK to start with.
10 /10 – a tour of France awaits me thinks
